City Rankings: Best of Spokane Regardless of Class (Pt II)
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We hit you with the first half of the list yesterday (Best of Spokane Regardless of Class Pt I) and now it’s time to reveal the top eight players in the area. Spokane has a long legacy of churning out…
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Continue ReadingWe hit you with the first half of the list yesterday (Best of Spokane Regardless of Class Pt I) and now it’s time to reveal the top eight players in the area. Spokane has a long legacy of churning out hoopers and these players look to continue that tradition. Here are the top eight players in the Greater Spokane area, starting with number eight.
No. 8 | Lafferty is a unique prospect offering good size at the point. He’s a versatile player who can dish it out as well as get to the hoop and finish for himself. But truth be told, Lafferty is at his best finding open guys and making his teammates look good. His ability to run the show with his size and strength creates a tough matchup for opposing guards. Lafferty is going to be an important piece in spurring on a talented Mt. Spokane team that made a big run to end last season.
No. 7 | Miller is one of the freakiest athletes in the state and at times he looks like an unstoppable force. The thing he needs to overcome is consistency. At times he can pull from way behind the arc and weave through defenses with ease but not with enough regularity. His consistency will be vital for Gonzaga Prep without Jayden Stevens this winter. One area Miller has improved is on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a guy who could end up near the top of this list when the year is over.
No. 6 | The thing that propelled Brown up this high, aside from his superb shooting, is his tenacity. He isn’t the biggest guy but man is he gutsy. He is more than willing to go in and scrap with much bigger players for boards and loose balls. Sometimes you can see a play not go his way, and this switch flips where Brown decides he’s going to beat someone on the next play down.
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No. 5 | This kid is just nonstop energy and attack. He’s like a pendulum, constantly going down the court, and back the other way, and down the court, and back. Santana is excellent at pushing the ball, turning up the heat on both sides of the ball, and making defenders match his intensity. He’s got a special knack for finishing through a sea of flailing arms and getting the right english off the glass.
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No. 4 | This is starting to feel like a running theme, but Phelps is another kid who is simply put a grinder. He leads through effort, challenging the opposition on every play. He’s a terrific defender, can run the offense, and also acts as the main scorer at times. His strength at the rim stands out but he’s also got a nice looking stroke when he gets his feet under him.
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No. 3 | Sanders is a different breed on the court. He’s not going to kill you from outside but he is so good going to the rim and attacking the glass that at times his lack of an outside shot does not matter. He’s a spectacular athlete that can shut down the other team’s best player and is a terrific help side defender. He’s got a good enough shot from the mid-range to keep defenders up close and set them up for some strong moves to the hoop.
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No. 2 | Some guys just have an innate feel for the game; where guys will be, how to set up defenders, and where the bucket is. Stinson is one of those guys. He has beautiful setup moves to get to his jumper going left or right. He’s a legit scorer but he’s also such a high IQ player that he can be a top defender even without exceptional athleticism. He should make a big leap from last year and push to be one of the top guys in Spokane.
No. 1 | There’s room for argument here but what sets Rainwater apart for me is when he has everything going, no one around Spokane looks better. He can hit from three, guard multiple positions with superb skill, and when he soars to the rim your jaw drops. When a guy can do all that, and run your team, it’s hard to pick against him.